Calandrella eremica
The Rufous-capped Lark, *Calandrella eremica*, is a diminutive yet resilient passerine of arid landscapes, immediately recognizable by its distinctive reddish-brown crown, which contrasts with its otherwise sandy-brown, streaked upperparts and pale underparts. Measuring approximately 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 inches) in length and weighing 18-25 grams, it exhibits a slender profile, a relatively short bill, and pale legs. This species belongs to the Alaudidae family, closely related to other short-to...
Inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands, stony deserts, and open dry scrubland, typically at low to moderate elevations across its range.
Mainly insectivorous during the breeding season, consuming beetles, ants, and grasshoppers. Supplements its diet with seeds of various grasses and herbs, especially during winter months. Forages exclusively by gleaning from the ground.
Primarily diurnal, the Rufous-capped Lark is a ground-dwelling species, spending much of its time foraging on open ground. Its foraging strategy involves running short distances, pausing to scan, and then gleaning insects and seeds from the surface. Males are highly territorial during the breedin...
The Rufous-capped Lark has a wide, albeit patchy, distribution across North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East. Its breeding range extends from Morocco eastward through Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, and across the Sinai Peninsula into Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It als...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-capped Lark's rufous cap, while distinctive, can vary in intensity, appearing brighter in fresh plumage and more worn with age. - Its display flight involves the male ascending almost vertically to a great height, then circling and singing continuously before dropping back to earth, ...